Moving status information providing method and server

ABSTRACT

Research server  4  transmits to moving status search server  3  a request for providing moving status information containing a conditional expression, designating attributes of users to be researched. Moving status search server  3  extracts users having user attribute information (information such as address, occupation or the like, of each user) matching the conditional expression and obtains location information from mobile stations  1  which the users possess. In this way, moving status search server  3  generates moving status information on the basis of location information of users having user attribute information matching the conditional expression, and transmits the generated moving status information to research server  4.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a server; and a moving statusinformation providing method for obtaining moving status informationindicating moving statuses of users of mobile stations on the basis oflocation information of the mobile stations, and providing other thirdparties with the obtained moving status information.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, systems for obtaining information indicating a locationof a mobile station (hereinafter referred to as “location information”)in various ways have steadily become commercially viable in mobilecommunication networks such as cellular telephones and so on. An exampleof such a system is as follows: On a PHS (Personal Handyphone System;registered trademark) network, the radio zone of a base station where amobile station is at present, can be determined and location informationof the mobile station can be obtained on the basis of the location ofthe base station. Also in use is a method for obtaining locationinformation of a mobile station, whereby a GPS (Global PositioningSystem) is installed in the mobile station.

Various uses for the location information have been developed. Locationinformation can be communicated through a network and displayed on thescreen of a personal computer; or provided through facsimile in the formof an image of a map of the location.

The aforementioned location information is greatly valued due to itswide range of applicability in many situations. It is especially usefulin doing related statistical research (hereinafter referred to as“research”). For example, individual corporations carry out research byquestioning consumers on the street about fast-moving consumer goods, orpopular sites, in order to determine ideal opening locations of a newshop or the best location for the sale of goods. In this case, ifinformation indicating how a consumer has been moving (hereinafterreferred to as “moving status information”), can be obtained by themethod detailed above, and without questioning consumers on the street,research for popular sites, and fast-moving consumer goods can readilybe made available.

However, moving status information contains information that is privateand confidential, such as current locations and a change of location ofindividuals who happen to be carrying a mobile communication device.Such information when accessed and utilized by a third party without theknowledge, and approval of the carriers of mobile communication devices,it may lead to serious legal problems.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention was developed against the background of theabove-mentioned prior art, and provides a moving status informationproviding method for obtaining moving status information of users ofmobile stations on the basis of location information of mobile stations,and providing organizations other than a mobile communication carrierwith the moving status information while also protecting the privacy ofthe users; and a server.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a movingstatus information providing method comprising: a step of obtaininglocation information indicating a location of a mobile station served bya mobile communication network; a step of receiving a designation ofarbitrary target attribute information and a period of monitoring amoving status by a server storing, in correspondence with the mobilestation, target attribute information indicating an attribute of atarget carrying the mobile station; a step of generating, by the server,moving status information of the mobile station corresponding to thedesignated target attribute information on the basis of time serieslocation information obtained by the mobile communication network withinthe designated period of monitoring; and a step of providing, by theserver, moving status information generated in the step of generatingmoving status information, to an agent outside of the mobilecommunication network.

In one preferred form, the location information is generated by themobile station and reported to the server.

In another preferred form, the location information is generated by themobile communication network on the basis of the location of a basestation serving a mobile station.

In another preferred form, the server further includes a step ofregistering the target attribute information of a target carrying themobile station in correspondence with the mobile station.

In another preferred form, the server registers the target attributeinformation of only a user of the mobile station, who agrees to theaccessing of moving status information in the step of registering targetattribute information.

In another preferred form, the moving status information providingmethod further includes: a step of extracting, by the server, a mobilestation corresponding to the target attribute information matching acondition designated from an agent outside of the mobile communicationnetwork; and in the step of obtaining location information, the mobilecommunication network obtains location information of the mobile stationextracted by the server in the extracting step.

In another preferred form, the moving status information providingmethod further includes: a step of extracting, by the server, a mobilestation corresponding to the target attribute information matching acondition designated from an agent outside of the mobile communicationnetwork; and a step of registering mobile station identificationinformation for uniquely specifying the mobile station extracted by theserver in the extracting step, and in the step of obtaining locationinformation, the mobile communication network obtains locationinformation of a mobile station corresponding to the mobile stationidentification information registered by the server in the step ofregistering mobile station identification information.

In another preferred form, the server provides in the providing step,the moving status information in a format designated by an agent outsideof the mobile communication network.

In another preferred form, the server transmits the moving statusinformation to a node outside of the mobile communication network whichis capable of communicating with the server in the providing step.

In another preferred form, the server transmits in the providing step,the moving status information to a node outside of the mobilecommunication network which is capable of communicating with the server,and the node links the moving status information transmitted from theserver with a condition designated in the extracting step.

In another preferred form, the server calls a mobile station whoselocation information is to be obtained, and obtains the locationinformation from the mobile station in the step of obtaining locationinformation.

In another preferred form, the moving status information is informationshowing the moving status of the target on a map.

In another preferred form, location information is presented on a map,and shows how a plurality of targets having a designated attributeconverge on a certain dot on the map.

In another preferred form, information presented on the map shows whichpath the plurality of targets having a designated attribute move betweena plurality of dots designated on the map.

In another preferred form, information presented on the map shows whichpath the plurality of targets having a designated attribute move in adesignated area on the map.

In another preferred form, information presented on the map shows whichpath the plurality of targets having a designated attribute move in adesignated space on the map.

In another preferred form, the user receives a return value from theowner of the server, for providing the moving status information of thedesignated target.

In another preferred form, the server stores a point corresponding tothe value of an amount to be paid by the owner of the server to the userin correspondence with the user, and the user of the mobile stationredeems the points for a service with a corresponding value offered bythe server.

In another preferred form, the owner of the server is also a mobilecommunication carrier providing a communication service via the mobilecommunication network, and determines a service charge for providing thecommunication service through the mobile communication network, inconsideration of compensation to be paid to the user of the mobilestation.

In another preferred form, an owner of the server is a mobilecommunication carrier providing a communication service via the mobilecommunication network, and the owner of the server provides a servicecorresponding to the value of the amount to be paid to the user of themobile station by attaching the service to the communication service.

In another preferred form, a target carrying the mobile station is auser of the mobile station.

In another preferred form, the mobile station is a cellular phoneperforming communication via the mobile communication network.

The present invention provides a server comprising: a storing unit whichstores target attribute information indicating an attribute of a targetcarrying a mobile station in correspondence with the mobile station; adesignation receiving unit which receives a designation of arbitrarytarget attribute information and a period of monitoring a moving status;a moving status information generating unit which generates movingstatus information of the mobile station corresponding to the designatedtarget attribute information based on time series location informationobtained by the mobile communication network within the designatedperiod of monitoring; and a providing unit which provides moving statusinformation generated in the step of generating moving statusinformation to an agent outside of the mobile communication network.

In another preferred form, the location information is generated by themobile station and reported to the server.

In another preferred form, the location information is generated by themobile communication network on the basis of the location of a basestation serving a mobile station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a moving status informationproviding method according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobilecommunication system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing moving status information according to thepresent embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of mobile station 1according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of research server 4according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing request management table TBL1 according tothe present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the memory content of moving statusinformation database 44 of research server 4 according to the presentembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of moving statussearch server 3 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the memory content of user attributeinformation database 33 of moving status search server 3 according tothe present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing request content storing table TBL2according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing request code correspondence table TBL3according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing location information obtainment table TBL4according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the memory content of location informationstoring unit 35 of moving status search server 3 according to thepresent embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing of moving status searchserver 3 according to the present embodiment when a request forproviding moving status information is transmitted from research server4.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the processing of moving status searchserver 3 according to the present embodiment in obtaining locationinformation.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the processing of moving status searchserver 3 according to the present embodiment in generating moving statusinformation and transmitting moving status information.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The embodiment of the present invention will be explained below withreference to the drawings. In the embodiment, the present invention isapplied to a mobile communication network.

[1] First Embodiment

[1.1] Outline of Moving Status Information Providing Method According tothe First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the outline of a moving status informationproviding method according to the first embodiment of the invention. Theoutline of the moving status information providing method according tothe first embodiment will be explained as described below with referenceto the drawing.

-   Step S1: Mobile communication carrier NC makes a contract with user    UZ who enjoys a communication service of the carrier to agree to    provide external organizations with moving status information    (hereinafter referred to as “moving status information-providing    contract”). Moving status information with which mobile    communication carrier NC provides research company MC is in a user    friendly form to which location information of each user UZ has been    converted, and indicates a description of traffic lines of users UZ    on a real map. The moving status information will be explained in    detail later.

User UZ may make the moving status information-providing contract at thetime he/she subscribes to the communication service of mobilecommunication carrier NC, or after subscribing to the communicationservice.

-   Step S2: A company RC applying for research (hereinafter referred to    as “company RC”) requests research company MC to research by    specifying a research period, and attributes of users UZ to be    researched (for example, age, sex, and so on).-   Step S3: Research company MC designates attributes of users UZ    corresponding to the request of company RC and asks mobile    communication carrier NC to provide moving status information.-   Step S4: Mobile communication carrier NC extracts users UZ with    attributes matching the moving status information request of company    RC, from users UZ who are under the moving status    information-providing contract. Then, mobile communication carrier    NC obtains the requested location information of extracted users UZ.    Mobile communication carrier NC generates moving status information    on the basis of the obtained location information and provides    research company MC with the generated moving status information.-   Step S5: Research company MC provides company RC with findings of    research corresponding to the request for research on the basis of    the moving status information provided by mobile communication    carrier NC. Contents of the findings of the research which research    company MC provides company RC are determined on the basis of the    request from company RC.

For example, in a case where the content of the request for research is“researching popular sites for men in their thirties”, research companyMC researches what places men in their thirties visit, and how many ofthe men visit these places, on the basis of the moving statusinformation provided by mobile communication carrier NC. Researchcompany MC draws up findings of research such as popular site rankingsor the like, and provides company RC with the findings of the research.

-   Step S6: Company RC pays research company MC a research charge in    compensation for the research.-   Step S7: Research company MC deducts a set commission from the    research charge which research company MC has received from company    RC and pays mobile communication carrier NC the commission as the    moving status information providing charge. The moving status    information providing charge which research company MC pays mobile    communication carrier NC is set by a mutual and a free contract    between them. Thus, the moving status information providing charge    can be set in various manners.

For example, mobile communication carrier NC and research company MC maymake a charge structure in advance and determine the moving statusinformation providing charge on the basis of the charge structure. Inthis case, the moving status information providing charge which researchcompany MC pays mobile communication carrier NC is calculated at apredetermined rate according to the quantity of information which hasbeen provided, that is the number of persons whose moving statusinformation is provided by mobile communication carrier NC. Thus, theamount, which, research company MC earns as a commission is derived fromthe following calculation: a research charge taken from company RC,minus the moving status information providing charge paid to mobilecommunication carrier NC.

-   Step S8: Mobile communication carrier NC deducts a set commission    from the moving status information providing charge, which mobile    communication carrier NC has received from research company MC, and    divides the commission amount equally and distributes the equally    divided commission to each user UZ who has provided moving status    information. As methods of distributing the moving status    information providing charge to users UZ, the below described    methods can be employed.    1. First Method of Distributing Moving Status Information Providing    Charge to Users UZ

In this method, the money to be distributed to each user UZ is paid intoa bank account of each user UZ.

2. Second Method of Distributing Moving Status Information ProvidingCharge to Users UZ

In this method, the money to be distributed to each user UZ is adjustedagainst the communication charge for the communication service providedby mobile communication carrier NC, which each user UZ must pay. Mobilecommunication carrier NC adds up the amount to be paid as compensationfor providing moving status information on a monthly basis with respectto each user UZ, and deletes the sum from the communication charges tobe paid by each user UZ.

3. Third Method of Distributing Moving Status Information ProvidingCharge to Users UZ

In this method, mobile communication carrier NC provides users UZ with aservice, other than the communication service, corresponding in value tothe compensation amount to be paid to each user UZ. One example of sucha service, would be for mobile communication carrier NC to provide onlyusers UZ providing moving status information with a special servicewhich enables users UZ to browse their own moving status information ona monthly basis, and so on. In this case, the charge for ancillaryservices which are provided by mobile communication carrier NC alongwith the communication service such as the Internet connection service,and so on, may be deducted from the compensation amount.

4. Fourth Method of Distributing Moving Status Information ProvidingCharge to Users UZ

In this method, each time users UZ provide moving status information;they are rewarded with redeemable points corresponding in value to thecompensation amount. Users UZ may utilize these points to obtainpredetermined bonuses from mobile communication carrier NC. Users UZ canobtain bonuses such as a bicycle for 300 points, a towel for 100 pointsand so on. These points may be redeemed for cash vouchers such as a giftcoupon and so on, by converting the points to a currency amount.

The following embodiment of the present invention gives a more detaileddescription of the above mentioned fourth method of distributing themoving status information providing charge to each user UZ.

The foregoing is the description of the moving status informationproviding method according to the present embodiment. Referring to theconfiguration and the operation of the mobile communication system ofthe present embodiment explained below will deepen understanding of themoving status information providing method according to the presentembodiment.

[1.2] Configuration of Mobile Communication Network

(a) Configuration of Entire System

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mobilecommunication system according to the present embodiment. As shown inFIG. 2, the mobile communication system according to the presentembodiment comprises a plurality of mobile stations 1; a mobile packetcommunication network 2 serving mobile stations 1; a moving statussearch server 3; and a research server 4. For simplicity, FIG. 2 showsonly one mobile station 1 among a plurality of mobile stations 1 in thesystem.

Mobile stations 1 are portable communication terminals such as cellulartelephones and so on, served by mobile packet communication network 2.Users UZ are the carriers of mobile station 1. Using mobile station 1enables users UZ to enjoy a packet switching service of mobile packetcommunication network 2, and a call service of a mobile telephonenetwork not shown. Mobile station 1 has the function of transmitting thepresent location of mobile station 1, that is the present location ofuser UZ, to moving status search server 3 along with the usual functionsof cellular telephones and so on.

Moving status search server 3 is a computer system which mobilecommunication carrier NC possesses. Moving status search server 3extracts users UZ, with attributes matching a request for providingmoving status information, from among users UZ who are under a movingstatus information-providing contract, and obtains location informationof mobile stations 1 of users UZ. Then, moving status search server 3generates moving status information on the basis of the obtainedlocation information.

FIGS. 3A to 3D are diagrams showing moving status information. In FIGS.3A to 3D, dots plotted on the maps correspond to location informationobtained from mobile station 1 (latitude•longitude). FIG. 3B shows thedetail, part A1, which is the area enclosed with a chain line on the mapshown in FIG. 3A; FIG. 3C shows the detail, part A2, which is the areaenclosed with a chain line on the map shown in FIG. 3B; and FIG. 3Dshows the detail, part A3, which is the area enclosed with a chain lineon the map shown in FIG. 3C.

Moving status search server 3 stores geographic information representingmaps of each area. Moving status search server 3 plots dots on the mapson a latitude/longitude grid corresponding to location information,which has been obtained from mobile station 1. Moving status searchserver 3 generates moving status information shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D byconnecting the plotted dots with a line. Further, moving status searchserver 3 transmits the generated moving status information to researchserver 4.

Research server 4 is a computer system, which research company MCpossesses. Research server 4 of research company MC designatesattributes of users UZ to be researched on the basis of a request forresearch from company RC, and transmits a request for providing movingstatus information to moving status search server 3. Research server 4receives moving status information transmitted from moving status searchserver 3. Research company MC draws up findings of the researchcorresponding to the request for research on the basis of moving statusinformation which research server 4 receives and provides company RCwith the findings.

The configuration of moving status search server 3 and research server 4will be explained in detail later.

Research company MC may provide company RC with the findings of theresearch through any of the following several methods. For example, anemployee of research company MC may print out the findings of research,and personally hand over the printed findings of the research to theconcerned person at company RC. Research company MC may transmit thefindings of the research to a server or a terminal of company RC via anetwork.

(b) Configuration of Mobile Station 1

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the configuration of mobile station 1according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, mobile station 1 comprises control unit 11;transmitter/receiver unit 12; command-inputting unit 13; liquid crystaldisplay unit 14; location information-calculating unit 15, and bus 16,which interconnects these units.

Transmitter/receiver unit 12 performs radio communication with basestation 21 of mobile packet communication network 2.

Command-inputting unit 13 comprises various buttons such as a PB (pushbutton) and a cursor key, and provides CPU 111 of control unit 11 withoperation data corresponding to the input operations of a user. CPU 111reads the input commands of the user on the basis of the input operationdata, and performs controls corresponding to the commands.

Liquid crystal display unit 14 comprises a display device such as aliquid crystal panel and so on, and displays a variety of informationunder the control of control unit 11.

Location information-calculating unit 15 comprises a GPS receiver notshown, which measures the latitude and longitude indicating a locationof mobile station 1 on the basis of GPS signals which the GPS receiverreceives, and provides location information to CPU 111 in the form ofthe latitude and longitude measurement.

Control unit 11 comprises CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111; ROM (ReadOnly Memory) 112; and RAM (Random Access Memory) 113, and controls eachunit of mobile station 1. ROM 112 stores a mobile station ID foruniquely specifying mobile stations 1 in mobile packet communicationnetwork 2; a control program for controlling the whole of mobile station1, and various control information. Moreover, ROM 112 stores a programfor transmitting location information of mobile station 1 to movingstatus search server 3 (hereinafter referred to as “locationinformation-reporting program”).

RAM 113 is used as a work area of CPU 111.

In carrying out various processing, CPU 111 reads out various controlprograms, which have been stored in ROM 112 and follows procedureswritten in the programs. For example, when CPU 111 instructs locationinformation-calculating unit 15 to calculate location information, CPU111 reads out the location information-reporting program, which has beenstored in ROM 112 and follows the procedure written in the program. Whenlocation information-calculating unit 15 provides location informationto CPU 111, CPU 111 transmits the location information to mobile packetcommunication network 2 via transmitter/receiver unit 12. The locationinformation transmitted from mobile station 1 is received by movingstatus search server 3 via mobile packet communication network 2.

(c) Configuration of Research Server 4

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of research server 4according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, research server 4 comprises system control unit 41;a communication unit 42; request management table storing unit 43;moving status information database 44; interface unit 45, and operationterminal 46.

System control unit 41 comprises a CPU; a ROM; a RAM and so on (notshown). ROM stores a control program for obtaining from moving statussearch server 3, moving status information corresponding to a requestfrom research server 4 to moving status search server 3 to providemoving status information. CPU carries out the processing for obtainingmoving status information from moving status search server 3 by carryingout the control program.

Communication unit 42 performs packet switching via mobile packetcommunication network 2. Research server 4 requests moving status searchserver 3 to provide moving status information by packet switching andreceives the transmitted moving status information. Interface unit 45mediates data transmission/reception between system control unit 41 andoperation terminal 46.

Operation terminal 46 is a device such as a PC (Personal Computer) orthe like, connected with research server 4. An operator of researchcompany MC inputs into operation terminal 46, information such as, aclient's name (company RC's name), a research period, and conditions ofresearch on the basis of a request for research from company RC.

Research conditions to be inputted into operation terminal 46 aredetermined on the basis of requests for research from company RC. Thecondition of the search can take any form, which is within thetechnological scope of the program. For example, research conditions canbe input in the form of a sentence, or a form of a conditionalexpression composed of a combination of keywords after extractingpredetermined keywords from the contents of the request for research.

In the present embodiment, the conditional expression composed of acombination of keywords extracted from contents of the request forresearch will be used as the method of inputting research conditions.

For example, we assume that the content of a research request fromcompany RC is, “popular sites for male office workers in their thirtiesliving in Tokyo”. In this case, research company MC extracts specifickeywords such as “the thirties”, “male”, “Tokyo”, “office worker”, and“popular sites”. The conditional expression, for example, “male”, * “thethirties”, * “Tokyo”, * “office worker”* “popular sites” is based onthese keywords. In the conditional expression “*” represents “ANDcondition”. On the other hand, when keywords are designated by using “ORcondition” such as “the thirties or the twenties” and so on, theconditional expression including “OR condition” can be made bydescribing “the thirties or the twenties” as (the twenties+thethirties).

Request management table storing unit 43 stores request management tableTBL1 for managing contents of requests from companies RC. FIG. 6 is adiagram showing request management table TBL1. As shown in FIG. 6,request management table TBL1 stores names of clients having requestedfor research (here, names of companies RC), request codes correspondingto the requests, research periods corresponding to the requests, andconditional expressions of the research, so as to link them. The requestcodes are uniquely determined in response to requests from companies RC.

When information such as a conditional expression and so on, is inputtedinto operation terminal 46, system control unit 41 temporally storesinputted information in request management table TBL1. Then, systemcontrol unit 41 reads out a request code, a research period, and aconditional expression which have been stored in request managementtable TBL1 and transmits, to moving status search server 3, a requestfor providing moving status information to which all of the informationmentioned above has been added.

Moving status information database 44 is a database for storing movingstatus information transmitted from moving status search server 3. FIG.7 is a diagram showing the memory content of moving status informationdatabase 44. As shown in FIG. 7, moving status information database 44stores moving status information corresponding to each request code.

When moving status information corresponding to each request forproviding moving status information is transmitted from moving statussearch server 3, system control unit 41 stores received moving statusinformation in moving status information database 44 in correspondencewith the request code of the request for providing moving statusinformation. Consequently, moving status information database 44 storesmoving status information corresponding to each of the requests.

(d) Configuration of Moving Status Search Server 3

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of moving statussearch server 3 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8,moving status search server 3 comprises system control unit 31;communication unit 32; user attribute information database 33; tablestoring unit 34; location information storing unit 35; user pointstoring unit 36 and account data storing unit 37.

System control unit 31 comprises a CPU; a ROM; a hard disk and so on(not shown). ROM stores the control program for obtaining locationinformation from mobile stations 1 and generating moving statusinformation on the basis of the location information, and providingresearch server 4 with the moving status information. ROM storesgeographic information for generating moving status information. CPUobtains location information from mobile stations 1 and generates movingstatus information by carrying out the control program. Further, CPUtemporally stores generated moving status information in the hard disk,reads out the moving status information and transmits the moving statusinformation to research server 4.

User attribute information database 33 stores information of users UZhaving mobile station 1 who are under the moving statusinformation-providing contract and receive the packet switching serviceof mobile packet communication network 2.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the memory content of user attributeinformation database 33. As shown in FIG. 9, user attribute informationdatabase 33 stores user attribute information for each mobile station 1of each user UZ who is under the moving status information-providingcontract. User attribute information is information indicating variousattributes such as age, sex, address, occupation, position, annualincome, hobby, and buying habits of users etc. User attributeinformation which has been stored in user attribute information database33 is collected through questionnaires which users answer in advancewhen making the moving status information-providing contract.

Table storing unit 34 stores various tables. These tables are used inorder for system control unit 31 to obtain location information fromusers UZ who are under the moving status information-providing contractand carry out the processing for generating moving status information onthe basis of the location information.

Various tables include request content storing table TBL2. When arequest for providing moving status information is transmitted fromresearch server 4, request content storing table TBL2 stores a varietyof information added to the request. FIG. 10 is a diagram showingrequest content storing table TBL2. As shown in FIG. 10, request contentstoring table TBL2 stores a request code, a research period, and aconditional expression, which are added to the request for providingmoving status information.

Moving status search server 3 transmits the generated moving statusinformation to research server 4 after adding the request codecorresponding to the moving status information. Since moving statussearch server 3 transmits moving status information after adding therequest code to the moving status information in this manner, researchserver 4 can link the transmitted moving status information withcontents of the request from company RC.

At this stage, moving status search server 3 does not add to movingstatus information, information indicating a specific user whose movingstatus information is provided, (for example, mobile station ID), whentransmitting moving status information. Thus, moving status informationcan be provided to third parties other than mobile communication carrierNC while users providing moving status information are not specified. Asa result, the privacy of each user UZ is protected.

Various tables stored in table storing unit 34 include a plurality ofprocessing code correspondence tables, and a location information searchtable apart from request content storing table TBL2. FIG. 11 is adiagram showing request code correspondence table TBL3. FIG. 12 is adiagram showing location information obtainment table TBL4.

Each time a request for providing moving status information istransmitted from research server 4, system control unit 31 preparesrequest code correspondence table TBL3 to be stored in table storingunit 34. As shown in FIG. 11, request code correspondence tables TBL3include request codes and mobile station IDs.

The mobile station IDs which have been stored in request codecorrespondence tables TBL3 are mobile station IDs of mobile stations 1corresponding to user attribute information matching the conditionalexpression corresponding to each request code. Specifically, the requestcode correspondence tables TBL3 store mobile station IDs of mobilestations 1 whose moving status information is generated for each requestcode. Thus, moving status information of mobile stations 1 correspondingto mobile station IDs, which have been stored in request codecorrespondence tables TBL3 is generated in system control unit 31.System control unit 31 deletes request code correspondence tables TBL3when system control unit 31 transmits moving status information toresearch server 4.

On the other hand, location information obtainment table TBL4 indicateswhether each mobile station 1 is the target whose location informationis to be obtained. As shown in FIG. 12, location information obtainmenttable TBL4 stores location information obtainment flag F1 correspondingto each mobile station 1 of each user UZ who is under the moving statusinformation-providing contract. Location information obtainment flag F1indicates which mobile station 1 is the target, with regard to which,the processing for obtaining location information is carried out. Whenlocation information obtainment flag F1 is “1”, system control unit 31determines that mobile station 1 is the target whose locationinformation is to be obtained. Then, system control unit 31 carries outthe processing for obtaining location information from mobile station 1.On the other hand, when location information obtainment flag F1 is “0”,system control unit 31 determines that mobile station 1 is not thetarget whose location information is to be obtained.

Location information obtainment flags F1 which become “1” in locationinformation obtainment table TBL4, correspond to mobile station IDsstored in each request code correspondence table TBL3. That is, targetswhose location information is to be obtained are mobile stations 1 whosemoving status information is obtained.

When mobile station IDs corresponding to location information obtainmentflags F1 do not exist in all of the request code correspondence tablesTBL3 stored in table storing table 34, by deleting request codecorrespondence tables TBL3, location information obtainment flags F1 canbe modified from “1” to “0” by system control unit 31.

Methods of storing a variety of information in tables which have beenstored in table storing unit 34 will be explained in detail later.

Location information storing unit 35 stores location information ofusers UZ who are under the moving status information-providing contract.FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the memory content of location informationstoring unit 35. As shown in FIG. 13, location information storing unit35 stores, for each mobile station 1 of each user UZ who is under themoving status information-providing contract, location information ofthe user UZ and the times when the location information is obtained.

System control unit 31 obtains location information at predeterminedintervals (for example, at intervals of 10 minutes) from mobile stations1 whose location information obtainment flag F1 are “1” in locationinformation obtainment table TBL4. System control unit 31 stores theobtained location information in location information storing unit 35and records the time when the location information is obtained inlocation information storing unit 35. At this stage, system control unit31 extracts a mobile station ID from the transmitted locationinformation and records the location information in the place oflocation information storing unit 35 corresponding to the mobile stationID. The location information of each mobile station 1 which has beenstored in location information storing unit 35 in this manner is deletedin order of decreasing duration of its entry. Location information isdeleted when location information obtainment flag F1 corresponding tothe mobile station ID of mobile station 1 is modified from “1” to “0”,or when the oldest research period corresponding to request codesexpires.

Methods by which system control unit 31 obtains location informationfrom mobile stations 1, can be as follows: System control unit 31 callsmobile station 1 and obtains location information; or mobile station 1may determine to transmit location information to moving status searchserver 3 and so on. In the present embodiment, we assume that systemcontrol unit 31 calls mobile stations 1 and obtains locationinformation.

User point storing unit 36 stores accredited points of each user UZ.

Account data storing unit 37 stores account data corresponding to amoving status information providing charge for each research company MC,which is under the contract of providing moving status information. Eachtime moving status search server 3 sends moving status information toresearch server 4, the account data is updated by accumulating theaccount data according to a predetermined charge structure of the movingstatus information providing charge.

[1.3] Operation of Mobile Communication System

The operation of the mobile communication system according to thepresent embodiment will be explained below with reference to thedrawings. The operation of the present embodiment will be explainedbelow in the following order. (1) the operation of receiving requestsfor research from company RC, (2) the operation of obtaining locationinformation, (3) the operation of generating and providing moving statusinformation.

(1) Operation of Receiving Requests for Research from Company RC

First, company RC requests research company MC to conduct research. Theresearch request may take many forms. For example, a research person ofcompany RC may request an employee of research company MC to research bytelephone or by electronic mail. Further, the research person of companyRC requests the employee of research company MC to research through aninterview with the employee.

In case the content of the request for research from company RC is“popular sites for male office workers in their thirties living inTokyo”, an operator of research company MC inputs a conditionalexpression such as “male”, * “the thirties”, * “Tokyo”, * “officeworker”* “popular sites” along with the name of company RC (for example,“company A”) according to the content of the request. At this stage,data such as “July 10, 5:00 to July 20, 5:00” is inputted as a researchperiod.

When the operator performs the input operation in this manner, systemcontrol unit 41 of research sever 4 determines, for example, “#1” as arequest code corresponding to the client's name, the research period,and the conditional expression. Then, system control unit 41 stores therequest code, client's name, research period, and conditional expressionin request management table TBL1 of request management table storingunit 43. As a result, the memory content of request management tableTBL1 of research server 4 becomes the one shown in FIG. 6. Systemcontrol unit 41 transmits, to moving status search server 3, a requestfor providing moving status information to which the request code, theresearch period, and the conditional expression are added from among avariety of information which has been stored in request management tableTBL1.

Next, the request for providing moving status information transmittedfrom research server 4 is received by communication unit 32 of movingstatus search server 3 and transmitted to system control unit 31. Whenthe request for providing moving status information is transmitted tosystem control unit 31, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14is carried out by system control unit 31.

First, system control unit 31 extracts the request code, the researchperiod, and the conditional expression, which have been added to therequest for providing moving status information transmitted fromresearch server 4 (step Sa1). Further, system control unit 31 storesextracted information in request content storing table TBL2, which hasbeen stored in table storing unit 34 (step Sa2). As a result, requestcontent storing table TBL2 stores the same information as the one whichhas been stored in request management table TBL1 of research server 4other than the client's name.

Next, system control unit 31 prepares, in table storing unit 34, requestcode correspondence table TBL3 corresponding to request code “#1”, whichhas been stored in request content storing table TBL2 (step Sa3).

After request code correspondence table TBL3 is prepared in this manner,system control unit 31 searches user attribute information database 33according to the conditional expression (in this case, “male”, * “thethirties”, * “Tokyo”, * “office worker”* “popular sites”) which has beenstored in request content storing table TBL2 (step Sa4). In case theuser attribute information matching the conditional expression is foundnot to exist as a result of the search, the determination in step Sa5 insystem control unit 31 becomes “No” and the processing comes to an end.

On the other hand, in case the user attribute information matching theconditional expression is found to exist as a result of the search instep Sa5 (“Yes”), system control unit 31 extracts mobile station IDscorresponding to the user attribute information (step Sa6). For example,in case the memory content of user attribute information database 33 issuch as the one shown in FIG. 9, user attribute informationcorresponding to mobile station ID “MS1” is found as user attributeinformation matching the conditional expression. In this case, systemcontrol unit 31 determines that mobile station 1 corresponding to mobilestation ID “MS1” is the target whose moving status information isgenerated, and extracts mobile station ID “MS1” (step Sa5, Sa6).Further, system control unit 31 stores the extracted mobile station ID“MS1” in request code correspondence table TBL3 which has been made instep Sa3 (in this case, request code correspondence table TBL3corresponding to the request code “#1”) (step Sa7).

Next, system control unit 31 determines whether location informationobtainment flag F1 corresponding to mobile station ID “MS1” is “0” inlocation information obtainment table TBL4 (step Sa8). In case theresult of the determination in step Sa8 location information obtainmentflag F1 corresponding to mobile station ID “MS1” is “1” (“Yes”), systemcontrol unit 31 does not modify location information obtainment flag F1and the processing proceeds to step Sa10.

On the other hand, in case the result of the determination in step Sa8location information obtainment flag F1 corresponding to mobile stationID “MS1” is “0” (“No”), system control unit 31 modifies locationinformation obtainment flag F1 to “1”, and the processing proceeds tostep Sa10 (step Sa9).

When the processing proceeds to step 10 in this manner, system controlunit 31 determines whether it has completed searching for any userattribute information, which has been stored in user attributeinformation database 33. In case the search has been completed (step Sa9“Yes”), system control unit 31 concludes the processing. On the otherhand, in the instance where the search has not been completed, systemcontrol unit 31 determines mobile station 1 whose moving statusinformation is to be obtained by repeatedly carrying out the processingof steps Sa4 to Sa10.

(2) Operation for Obtaining Location Information

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 15, the operation for obtaining locationinformation will be explained. This processing is performed by systemcontrol unit 31 of moving status search server 3 at certain intervalsindependent of the aforementioned operation in receiving requests forresearch from company RC.

In FIG. 15, “M” indicates the number of users UZ who are under themoving status information-providing contract, including user attributeinformation which has been stored in user attribute information database33. “N” corresponds to each mobile station ID, which has been stored inlocation information obtainment table TBL4. For example, when “N” is“1”, the mobile station ID “MS1” is the target of the processing. Andwhen “N” is “2”, the mobile station ID “MS2” is the target of theprocessing. The content of FIG. 12 is the same as that of the content oflocation information obtainment table TBL4 as explained below.

First, system control unit 31 writes the time when it started theprocessing in location information storing unit 35 (step Sb1). Aftersetting a value of “N” up as “0”, system control unit 31 increments “N”by only “1” (step Sb2, Sb3). After making “N” into “1” in this manner,system control unit 31 reads out location information obtainment flag F1corresponding to mobile station ID “MS1” in location informationobtainment table TBL4 (step Sb4).

Next, system control unit 31 determines whether the value of locationinformation obtainment flag F1 corresponding to the mobile station ID“MS1” is “1” or not (step Sb5). In this case, since location informationobtainment flag F1 corresponding to mobile station ID “MS1” is “1”,system control unit 31 determines “Yes” in step Sb5. System control unit31 identifies mobile station 1 corresponding to mobile station ID “MS1”as the target whose location information is to be obtained and carriesout the processing of calling mobile station 1 corresponding to mobilestation ID “MS1” (step Sb6).

Next, system control unit 31 transmits a request for locationinformation to mobile station 1 (step Sb7). Until location informationis transmitted from mobile station 1, system control unit 31 is onstandby (step Sb8). When the request for location informationtransmitted from moving status search server 3 is received by mobilestation 1, CPU 111 reads out aforementioned locationinformation-reporting program from ROM 112 and instructs locationinformation-calculating unit 15 to calculate location information.Location information-calculating unit 15 transmits calculated locationinformation to CPU 111. CPU 111 transmits location informationtransmitted from location information-calculating unit 15 in this mannerto mobile packet communication network 2 through transmitter/receiverunit 12.

On the other hand, system control unit 31 of moving status search server3, upon receiving location information transmitted from mobile station1, determines “Yes” in step Sb8. Then, the processing proceeds to stepSb9. System control unit 31 writes received location information in theplace of location information storing unit 35 corresponding to mobilestation ID “MS1” (step Sb9).

After the location information is written, system control unit 31determines whether the value of “N” exceeds the value of “M” (stepSb10). Because “N=1” in this example, system control unit 31 carries outstep Sb3 and increments the value of “N” by only “1”. Further, systemcontrol unit 31 reads out location information obtainment flag F1corresponding to mobile station ID “MS2” (step Sb4).

Next, system control unit 31 determines whether the value of locationinformation obtainment flag F1 corresponding to mobile station ID “MS2”is “1” or not (step Sb5). Since location information obtainment flag F1corresponding to mobile station ID “MS2” is “0” in this example, systemcontrol unit 31 determines “No” in step Sb5. As a result, system controlunit 31 identifies mobile station 1 corresponding to mobile station ID“MS2” as the target whose location information is not obtained (stepSb5). System control unit 31 determines that the value of “N” does notexceed the value of “M” in step Sb10, carries out step Sb3 again, andincrements the value of “N” by only “1”.

Hereinafter, the processing similar to the foregoing is repeated, whenthe processing corresponding to all mobile station IDs which have beenstored in location information obtainment table TBL4 comes to an end;and the value of “N” is equal to the value of “M” (step Sb10 “Yes”),system control unit 31 concludes the processing.

(3) Operation of Generating and Providing Moving Status Information

Next, the operation of generating and transmitting moving statusinformation will be explained as FIG. 16. The processing is performed bysystem control unit 31 when a research period which has been stored inrequest content storing table TBL2 of moving status search server 3expires. Thus, the processing is not carried out until the researchperiod expires.

“Y” in FIG. 16 indicates the number of mobile station IDs, which havebeen stored in request code correspondence table TBL3 to be processed.On the other hand, “X” corresponds to each mobile station ID, which hasbeen stored in request code correspondence table TBL3. The foregoingwill be explained more specifically as follows. First, we assume thatrequest code correspondence table TBL3, which is the target of theprocessing of generating moving status information has the same contentas request code “#1” shown in FIG. 11. In this assumption, when “X” is“1”, mobile station ID “MS1” is the target of the processing. When “X”is “2”, mobile station ID “MS7” is the target of the processing. Toexplain more specifically, we assume that the research periodcorresponding to request code “#1” expires and the content of requestcontent storing table TBL2 and of request code correspondence table TBL3is the same as the one shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

First, system control unit 31 reads out request code correspondencetable TBL3 corresponding to request code “#1” from table storing unit 34(step Sc1). After reading out request code correspondence table TBL3 inthis manner, system control unit 31 seeks the number of mobile stationIDs, which have been stored in request code correspondence table TBL3and determines the value of “X” and “Y”.

Next, after making the value of “X” into “0”, system control unit 31increments “X” by only “1” (step Sc2, Sc3). Setting “X” up as “1” inthis manner, system control unit 31 reads out the mobile station IDcorresponding to “X=1”, that is mobile station ID “MS1”, in request codecorrespondence table TBL3 corresponding to request code “#1” (step Sc4).

Next, system control unit 31 determines that mobile station 1corresponding to mobile station ID “MS1” is the target whose movingstatus information is generated and carries out the processing ofgenerating moving status information of mobile station 1 correspondingto mobile station ID “MS1” (step Sc5).

The following processing is carried out in the processing of generatingmoving status information.

-   (i) System control unit 31 reads out the research period    corresponding to request code “#1” in request content storing table    TBL2.-   (ii) System control unit 31 reads out location information, which    has been obtained within the research period out of location    information corresponding to the mobile station ID which has been    stored in location information storing unit 35. Then, system control    unit 31 plots dots on a latitude/longitude grid corresponding to the    location information represented by the aforementioned geographic    information.-   (iii) System control unit 31 connects the dots plotted on a map with    a line in the order of decreasing earliness to describe a traffic    line on the map.

After a generation of moving status information corresponding to mobilestation ID “MS1” has been completed in this manner, system control unit31 writes the generated moving status information on the hard disk whichit comprises (not shown) (step Sc6). Further, system control unit 31determines whether the value of “X” exceeds the value of “Y” (step Sc7).As “X=1” in this example, system control unit 31 carries out step Sc3 toincrement the value of “X” by only “1”.

System control unit 31 repeats the processing described above (steps Sc3to Sc7) until the value of “X” is equal to the value of “Y” (step Sc7“Yes”), that is until the processing corresponding to all mobile stationIDs which have been stored in request code correspondence table TBL3 hasbeen completed. As a result, the moving status information of all usersUZ having user attribute information matching the conditional expressioncorresponding to request code “#1” transmitted from research server 4,is generated and transmitted to the hard disk (not shown) in systemcontrol unit 31.

Next, system control unit 31 reads out moving status information of eachuser UZ, which has been stored on the hard disk (step Sc8). Further,system control unit 31 adds request code “#1” to each moving statusinformation which has been read out and sequentially transmits toresearch server 4, moving status information to which the request codehas been added (step Sc9).

Next, system control unit 31 adds account data corresponding to a movingstatus information providing charge to account data of account datastoring unit 37. At this stage, a set commission is deducted from themoving status information providing charge and the balance is dividedamong all users who have provided moving status information. Then,points corresponding to the divided amount are added to each user'saccount in user point storing unit 36.

On the other hand, in research server 4, moving status information ofeach user UZ transmitted from moving status search server 3 issequentially received by communication unit 42 and transmitted to systemcontrol unit 41. Next, system control unit 41 stores received movingstatus information in moving status information database 44. At thisstage, system control unit 41 stores each moving status information incorrespondence with each other on the basis of request code “#1” addedto the moving status information.

When moving status information is stored in moving status informationdatabase 44 in this manner, moving status information can be referred toby means of operation terminal 46 of research company MC. Specifically,when information such as a client's name, request code, and so on isinputted by means of operation terminal 46, system control unit 31 readsout the conditional expression corresponding to the information fromrequest management table TBL1; displays the conditional expression onthe display of operation terminal 46; and displays a list of movingstatus information which has been stored in moving status informationdatabase 44. In this situation, when an operator operates operationterminal 46, he/she can display each moving status information on thedisplay or print out each moving status information by using a printerconnected to operation terminal 46.

Research company MC draws up information corresponding to a request forresearch from company RC by using moving status information which hasbeen stored in moving status information database 44 and providescompany RC with information corresponding to the request as the findingsof research. The findings of research provided to company RC may takemany forms of presentation. For example, when the content of the requestof research is “popular sites for male office workers in their thirtiesliving in Tokyo”, research company MC may draw up reports such as“popular site rankings” on the basis of obtained moving statusinformation and visit company RC to hand in the report. Research companyMC may submit to company RC research information drawn up on the basisof moving status information contained in various storage medias.Further, research company MC may transmit research information to theconcerned person at company RC by electronic mail and so on.

(1) Effects of Embodiment

As described above, in the present embodiment, conditions are designatedon the basis of a request for research from a company and moving statusinformation of users having attributes matching the conditions areprovided to a research company. Thus, the research company can draw upfindings of research corresponding to the request for research from thecompany without the aid of questionnaires for which it is necessary toexpend on manpower.

In the present embodiment, moving status information is generated in amoving status search server, which a mobile communication carrierpossesses, and in the process of providing the moving statusinformation, the identity of the users who provide the moving statusinformation are not revealed to the research company. Thus, the mobilecommunication carrier can provide the research company with movingstatus information while also protecting the privacy of each user.

Moving status information corresponding to only users who are under themoving status information-providing contract is provided to the researchcompany in the present embodiment. Thus, information of users who do notwant to provide their own moving status information can be preventedfrom leaking out, and making the contract in providing moving statusinformation can effectively prevent problems from arising subsequently.

In the present embodiment, paying compensation for providing movingstatus information on to users in the form of money or the like, canbecome an incentive to users to make the moving statusinformation-providing contract.

Moving status search server 3 obtains location information from mobilestations 1 at certain intervals in the present embodiment; however, thetiming of obtaining the information may be set at irregular intervals.

In the present embodiment, attributes of users included in userattribute information which moving status search server 3 has areexplained with reference to the attributes shown in FIG. 9. However,user attribute information is naturally not limited to these attributesand may include other attributes.

[1.4] Modifications

<Modification 1>

An operator of research company MC inputs a conditional expression andso on, corresponding to a request for research from company RC intooperation terminal 46 of research server 4 in the present embodiment.However, in the instance where company RC possesses a computer system,it is naturally possible to input a conditional expression and so on bymeans of the computer system and transmit the request for research toresearch server 4 via mobile packet communication network 2.

In this case, if the conditional expression and a research period isinputted by means of the computer system which company RC possesses, thecomputer system transmits to research server 4 its own address (forexample, telephone number, or IP address), and a request for research towhich the inputted conditional expression and a research period areadded. System control unit 41 of research server 4 specifies a client'sname on the basis of the address of the computer system of company RCadded to the received request for research and stores information suchas the conditional expression added to the request for research and soon, along with the client's name in request management table TBL1.

When company RC possesses the above described computerized system forconducting research, the research information can be provided via mobilepacket communication network 2.

In this case, the computer system of company RC does not need todirectly communicate with mobile packet communication network 2. Forexample, when the computer system is connected to the Internet, thecomputer system communicates with mobile packet communication network 2via the Internet. In this case, it is recommended that a relay devicehaving a function of converting communication protocols be installedbetween the two networks, the Internet and mobile packet communicationnetwork 2.

<Modification 2>

In the present embodiment, research server 4 is connected to mobilepacket communication network 2 and moving status information istransmitted from moving status search server 3 to research server 4 viamobile packet communication network 2. However, moving status searchserver 3 may be connected to research server 4 by a common carrierleased line. Mobile packet communication network 2 may be connected tothe Internet in which research server 4 is installed.

<Modification 3>

In the present embodiment, moving status search server 3 generatesmoving status information corresponding to each mobile station 1 (thatis, each user) whose moving status information is generated, andprovides research server 4 with the moving status information. In otherwords, in the present embodiment, the number of items of moving statusinformation to be generated is equal to the number of mobile stations 1which have been extracted as targets whose moving status information isobtained. Then, the moving status information is provided by movingstatus search server 3 to research server 4. On the other hand, movingstatus search server 3 may display moving statuses relating to allmobile stations 1 on one map (i.e. generate one moving statusinformation) and provide research server 4 with the moving statusinformation.

In this case, if each mobile station 1 is plotted with a different coloron the map, it would clarify the changes occurring in the moving statusof each mobile station 1.

The changes in the moving status may be described by adding figures orcharacters to dots plotted on the map.

In the case of certain parts of the map in which a plurality of plotteddots overlap, the number of overlapping dots (i.e. the number of usersin the location of plotted dots) can be specified by changing the sizeand the color of the dots. And to further clarify, a table showing thenumber of users in the location of the overlapping dots, the age andgender of each user may be added to the aforementioned dots. In thiscase, each dot is assigned a number. A table showing the number of userscorresponding to each number assigned to the dots and the age and thegender of each user along with their moving status information may beprovided.

In the present embodiment, the moving status information which movingstatus search server 3 provides research server 4, is the same as themoving status of users indicated on a map. However, information withwhich moving status search server 3 provides research server 4 is notlimited to this form and may take other forms which are obtained on thebasis of location information.

For example, in plotting dots on the latitude/longitude gridcorresponding to each item of location information on a map, the time ofobtaining the location information corresponding to each dot can beadded to the dots. At this time, for example, the moving directions ofusers may be also be specified by the use of arrows.

If research server 4 possesses geographic information, it is recommendedthat moving status search server 3 when transmitting moving statusinformation to research server 4, transmit only the course of traffic=taken by a user. In this case, system control unit 41 of research server4 can obtain the same information as in FIG. 3 by overlapping thegeographic information contained in system control unit 41, with themoving status information which has been transmitted from moving statussearch server 3. In this case, the moving status information of allmobile stations 1 can be described by single traffic lines. And thetraffic lines of each mobile station 1 may be distinguished on the basisof the color of the traffic line. In the case of the parts on a map inwhich a plurality of traffic lines overlap, the overlapping trafficlines whose numbers correspond to the numbers of users who passedthrough the location,) can be indicated by changing the width and colorof the overlapping lines.

At this stage, it becomes possible to indicate the direction of movementof each mobile station 1 by representing the directions by an arrow orthe like on each traffic line. Moreover, moving status information ofeach user UZ can be described in a tabular form. In this case, a tableshows the location information of users UZ and the times of obtainingthe location information.

In the aforementioned modification, the moving status information ofusers can be provided while protecting the privacy of the users as themoving status information which moving status search server 3 providesresearch server 4 does not carry any identifying information regardingspecific users, for example, the mobile station ID, or the like.

<Modification 4>

In the present embodiment, location information which moving statussearch server 3 obtains from mobile stations 1 is obtained by using theGPS function of mobile stations 1. However, location information mayalso be obtained by other methods. For example, location information maybe obtained by using what is called a “three-points measurement” system,or by using location registration signal information registered in theservice control station (not shown) of mobile packet communicationnetwork 2 to specify base station 21 serving mobile stations 1 in mobilepacket communication network 2.

The location registration signal information is obtained as describedbelow. First, mobile station 1 receives a beacon signal transmitted over“perch channels” from base station 21 and returns its own mobile stationID as response signal for the beacon signal. Base station 21 adds itsown base station ID to the mobile station ID transmitted from mobilestation 1 and transmits the mobile station ID to which the base stationID is added to the service control station (not shown). As a result, themobile station ID and the base station ID of base station 21 servingmobile station 1, are registered as location registration signalinformation.

Moving status search server 3 obtains the base station ID of basestations 21 serving each mobile station 1 from the service controlstation and obtains location information on the basis of the obtainedbase station ID. At this stage, moving status search server 3 obtainslocation information of each mobile station 1 from the location of basestation 21 corresponding to the obtained base station ID.

<Modification 5>

The mobile communication system of the present embodiment may operate asdescribed in the following examples.

(a) Increase in Users of Vending Machines

For example, we may take a case where vending machines are installed. Inthis case, if the vending machine is installed in the location carryingthe busiest pedestrian traffic and toward the direction in which goodsdisplayed are conspicuous, it is expected that sales from the vendingmachine will increase. At this stage, the mobile communication systemcan be used to estimate the most appropriate location and the directionfor installing the vending machine. The following operation of themobile communication system is recommended in the case.

First, data indicating the address of the predetermined site where thevending machine will be installed is inputted into operation terminal46. Moving status search server 3 identifies the base station IDcorresponding to the data transmitted from operation terminal 46 andobtains location information of mobile stations 1 whose response signalsinclude their base station ID. At this stage, the service controlstation stores all histories of location information of each mobilestation 1 and transmits the histories to moving status search server 3.Moving status search server 3 generates moving status information fromthe obtained location information and maps the generated moving statusinformation on a map.

When moving status information is mapped on a map in this manner, thelocation carrying the busiest pedestrian traffic and the direction inwhich most pedestrians move can be visually represented. This indicatesthat a plurality of users designated by attributes converge on a certaindot on the map. Thus, a dot on a map meeting a certain condition can beestimated by using the mobile communication network of the presentmodification (a).

The foregoing explains the instance where a certain dot on a map isestimated as a result of obtaining moving status information.Furthermore, by setting a certain dot on a map as a control point, themoving status information can be used to estimate how people gather atthe control point. More specifically, in order to obtain informationindicating which path customers of a certain restaurant take mostfrequently, to come to the restaurant, it is recommended that dataindicating the address of the location of the restaurant be inputted asa search condition, and the moving status information of mobile stations1 around this address be obtained. Thus, moving status information canbe used to estimate the location where advertisements on the street suchas distribution of leaflets can be made most effectively.

(b) Increase in Students of Cram, or ‘Additional Study’ Schools

Next, we assume that a cram school is looking to set up anadvertisement. In this case, it is desirable to obtain moving statusinformation indicating which path students coming out of their dayschool take to their nearest bus stop or railway station. At this stage,the mobile communication system of the present modification (b) can beused.

In this case, it is recommended that data indicating the location of theschool and data indicating the location of the station be inputted intooperation terminal 46. Users having the attribute of being a student areselected out of users having mobile stations 1. The content described inthe present modification (a) applies correspondingly to operations otherthan the operation described above. Thus, moving status information ofmobile stations 1 around the school and the station can be drawn up.

As a result, moving status information indicating which path studentstake from their school to the station or the bus stop, can be generated.The most effective location for setting up the sign or placingadvertisements can be visually represented on the basis of the movingstatus information. In other words, it is possible to determine howusers UZ having a certain attribute move between a plurality of pointsdesignated on a map by using moving status information.

(c) Safety Management and Traffic Control in Events

For example, we assume that a summer fireworks display is being held.Since a lot of people attend such an event, traffic jams can occuraround the place where the event is held, causing traffic accidents dueto misinformation and confusion. In this situation, the mobilecommunication system of the present modification can be used for trafficcontrol or safety management in and around the place where the event isbeing held.

So, the address indicating a predetermined area, for example, the nameof the town or village, is inputted as a condition into operationterminal 46. The content described in the present modification (a)applies correspondingly to operations other than the operation describedabove. Thus, location information of mobile stations 1 in a wider areacan be obtained. In other words, it is possible to determine how usershaving a certain attribute move in the designated area on a map on thebasis of the moving status information accessed through the mobilecommunication system of the present modification (c).

As a result, traffic conditions in and around the place where the eventis held can be known, and the mobile communication system in effect canhelp achieve better traffic control, as well as guide pedestrians to thelocation of the event.

Since moving status search server 3 of the present modification obtainsthe base station ID of base stations 21 serving each mobile station 1 atcertain intervals from the service control station, locations ofspectators and paths of the movement of spectators can be determinedconcurrent to the happening.

(d) Tourist Information

For example, well known tourist information regarding popularsightseeing places given on a map can be taken as reference when drawingup moving status information on various converging points of people of acertain town. The mobile communication system of the presentmodification (d), is able to grasp the moving statuses of mobilestations 1 in a wider area in comparison to the above mentionedmodification (c).

In this case, the address indicating a predetermined area covering awider geographic location such as a prefecture, or a city can bedesignated as a condition inputted into operation terminal 46. Thecontent described in modification (a) applies correspondingly tooperations other than the operation described above.

When moving status information obtained in this manner is mapped on amap, it is possible to visually grasp the locations where peopleconverge in a wider area.

In various examples described in the present modification, moving statusinformation drawn up on the basis of location information may be mappedon a map, and the moving status information may be the one in which aplurality of obtained location information are mapped on one map inchronological order. Various examples described in the presentmodification can be realized through a method of obtaining locationinformation using the GPS explained in the embodiment.

<Modification 6>

In the present embodiment, research company MC requests mobilecommunication carrier NC to provide moving status information on thebasis of a request for research from company RC. However, mobilecommunication carrier NC may serve as research server 4 by adding thefunction of research server 4 to moving status search server 3, and alsoperform the operations of research company MC.

<Modification 7>

In the present embodiment, research company MC requests mobilecommunication carrier NC to provide moving status information on thebasis of a request for research from company RC. However, company RC maydirectly request mobile communication carrier NC to provide movingstatus information. In this case, company RC may serve as researchserver 4 and mobile communication carrier NC may draw up the findings ofthe research by adding the function of research server 4 to movingstatus search server 3.

<Modification 8>

In the present embodiment, user attribute information of users UZ ofmobile stations 1 is stored in user attribute information database 33 ofmoving status search server 3. However, the user attribute informationmay be stored in mobile packet communication network 2.

In this case, when user UZ of mobile station 1 subscribes to thecommunication service of mobile packet communication network 2, userattribute information of user UZ is registered in the service controlstation (not shown) of mobile packet communication network 2. Movingstatus search server 3 searches user attribute information registered inthe service control station for user attribute information matching aconditional expression transmitted from research server 4 in generatingmoving status information. It becomes possible to generate moving statusinformation by obtaining location information of mobile stations 1 ofusers UZ pinpointed as a result of the search.

<Modification 9>

In the present embodiment, moving status information of only users UZwho are under the moving status information-providing contract isprovided to research company MC. However, moving status information ofall users UZ may be provided to research company MC without making theparticular contract of providing information. In this case, it would benecessary to secure the user's agreement to the possibility of movingstatus information being used for any purpose, in exchange for availingof the packet switching of mobile packet communication network 2.

<Modification 10>

In the present embodiment, moving status search server 3 receives amoving status information providing charge and passes the moving statusinformation providing charge on to users UZ of mobile stations 1.However, a method which may bypass the paying of the moving statusinformation providing charge to users can also be considered.

If the moving status information providing charge received from researchcompany MC covers the running costs of mobile communication carrier NC,the income may be so utilized; but in exchange, the use of mobile packetcommunication network 2 can be free of charge.

<Modification 11>

In the present embodiment, users of all mobile stations 1 are thetargets whose moving status information is obtained. However, thetargets whose moving status information is obtained need not be limitedto people, and may also include animals or objects.

For example, if a small device having the same function as mobilestations 1 is attached to animals (i.e. as a collar), the ecology ofanimals can be researched. In this case, the small device is attached totargets randomly selected from all species of animals existing on earth.Then, according to requests from research organizations (i.e. toresearch the ecology of great egrets), it is possible to obtain thecorresponding moving status information.

For example, if a device having the same function as mobile stations 1is attached to automobiles, such as taxis and so on, moving statuses andso on of the automobile can be obtained.

<Modification 12>

In the present embodiment, geographic information can be generated byobtaining the latitude/longitude of location information of mobilestations 1. Alternatively, it is also possible to install the functionof calculating not only latitude/longitude but also the altitude inlocation information-calculating unit 15 of mobile stations 1 so as toobtain the altitude as location information.

Thus, system control unit 31 of moving status search server 3 candetermine the location of a building and on which floor of a building auser is located. As a result, it becomes possible to obtain athree-dimensional, and a more detailed moving status information. Inother words, according to the present modification, it is possible todetermine which path users who fulfill a required set of attributes takewhen passing through a designated space on a map.

<Modification 13>

The present embodiment describes an instance, where a person carryingmobile station 1 (i.e. a user of mobile station 1) and a person makingthe moving status information-providing contract (i.e. the owner ofmobile station 1) is the same individual. However, it is also possiblethat the two persons are different individuals.

For example, the president of a certain company may distribute mobilestations 1 to company employees and permits the use of the mobilestations. In this case the moving status providing contract is madebetween the employee and the company, and the president of the companyin turn, makes the moving status information-providing contract withmobile communication carrier NC. Mobile communication carrier NC, uponreceiving moving status information, passes the moving statusinformation providing charge to the president of the company, that is,the owner of mobile stations 1. The president of the company may chooseto allocate the passed charge to the communication service charges ofmobile stations 1 distributed to the employees who are the users ofmobile stations 1. In this manner, it is possible to make the movingstatus information-providing contract even if the owner and the user ofa mobile station are not the same individual.

<Modification 14>

In the present embodiment, research company MC generates moving statusinformation according to the conditions inputted by company RC and drawsup findings of research on the basis of moving status information.However, research company MC may also serve as company RC andconcurrently perform operations which include selection of targets anditems to be researched to drawing up the findings of research. In otherwords, it does not matter what modification of form the presentinvention may take, as long as moving status information is drawn up onthe basis of location information of mobile stations 1 provided bymoving status search server 3, and the information can be utilized formaking statistical determinations. Thus, it becomes possible to use thefindings of the research in providing certain services which researchcompany MC provides, or to resell the findings of the research to othercompanies.

As explained above, the invention enables the obtaining of moving statusinformation of a user of a mobile station on the basis of locationinformation of a mobile station and providing organizations other than amobile communication carrier with the moving status information whileprotecting the privacy of the user. Furthermore, the present inventionmakes it possible to keep a track of the movements of people who chooseto carry mobile stations, by maintaining a record of moving statusinformation, which is location information of a user of a mobile stationobtained within a specific period of time.

1. A moving status information providing method performed by a serverproviding moving status information, comprising: storing attribute dataof users of mobile stations in association with identifiers of themobile stations; receiving a moving status information request includingattribute data and moving status monitoring period data; searching foridentifiers of one or more mobile stations associated with the attributedata included in the received moving status information request, andstoring the searched identifiers of mobile stations in association withthe moving status monitoring period data included in the moving statusinformation request; obtaining location information of the mobilestations whose identifiers are stored at predetermined intervals, andstoring the obtained location information in a chronological order inaccordance with the identifiers of the mobile stations; determiningwhether a moving status monitoring period indicated by the stored movingstatus monitoring period data has expired; reading out, if determiningthat the moving status monitoring period has expired, the identifiers ofthe mobile stations stored in association with the moving statusmonitoring period data, and generating moving status information on thebasis of location information of the mobile stations which is stored inthe third memory and which has been obtained within the moving statusmonitoring period; and providing the generated moving statusinformation.
 2. A moving status information providing method accordingto claim 1, wherein, said location information is generated by saidmobile stations.
 3. A moving status information providing methodaccording to claim 1, wherein, the mobile stations are mobile stationsserved by a mobile communication network; and said location informationis generated on the basis of locations of base stations serving saidmobile station.
 4. A moving status information providing methodaccording to claim 1, wherein, storing attribute data comprises storingattribute data of only users of mobile stations who agree to providelocation information.
 5. A moving status information providing methodaccording to claim 1, wherein, receiving a moving status informationrequest comprises receiving data on a format of moving statusinformation in addition to attribute data and moving status monitoringperiod data; and providing the generated moving status informationcomprises providing moving status information in a format indicated bythe data on the format of the moving status information.
 6. A movingstatus information providing method according to claim 1, wherein, theserver is served by a mobile communication network; and providing thegenerated moving status information comprises providing moving statusinformation to a node located outside of the mobile communicationnetwork.
 7. A moving status information providing method according toclaim 1, wherein: the server is served by a mobile communicationnetwork; receiving the moving status information request comprisesreceiving the attribute data the and moving status monitoring perioddata from a node located outside of the mobile communication network;providing the generated moving status information comprises providingthe moving status information to the node; and the method furthercomprises storing, by the node, the moving status information inaccordance with the attribute data.
 8. A moving status informationproviding method according to claim 1, wherein, obtaining locationinformation comprises calling the mobile stations and obtaining thelocation information from the mobile stations.
 9. A moving statusinformation providing method according to claim 1, wherein, said movingstatus information is information showing a moving status of users ofone or more mobile stations on a map.
 10. A moving status informationproviding method according to claim 9, wherein, the moving statusinformation shown on the map shows how the users of one or more mobilestations converge at a certain point on said map.
 11. A moving statusinformation providing method according to claim 9, wherein, theinformation shown on said map shows which path the users of one or moremobile stations use to move between a plurality of points designated onsaid map.
 12. A moving status information providing method according toclaim 9, wherein, the information shown on said map shows which path theusers of one or more mobile stations use to move within an areadesignated on said map.
 13. A moving status information providing methodaccording to claim 9, wherein, the information shown on said map showswhich path the users of one or more mobile stations use to move within aspace designated on said map.
 14. A moving status information providingmethod according to claim 1, further comprising providing credit pointsfor provision of location information to users of mobile stations whoselocation information is obtained.
 15. A moving status informationproviding method according to claim 14, wherein providing credit pointscomprises: storing credit points in a fourth memory for each userproviding location information; and providing a service corresponding toa number of credit points stored in the fourth memory to the users ofmobile stations.
 16. A moving status information providing methodaccording to claim 14, wherein: an owner of said server is a mobilecommunication carrier providing a communication service via a mobilecommunication network; and providing credit points comprisesdetermining, by the owner of the server, a charge for a communicationservice used on the mobile communication network for the users of mobilestations in consideration of provisions of location information.
 17. Amoving status information providing method according to claim 14,wherein: an owner of said server is a mobile communication carrierproviding a communication service via a mobile communication network;and providing credit points comprises providing, by the owner of theserver, a service in return for a provision of location information tothe users of mobile stations in addition to the communication service.18. A moving status information providing method according to claim 1,wherein, the users of the mobile stations are owners of the mobilestations.
 19. A moving status information providing method according toclaim 1, wherein, said mobile stations are cellular phones performingcommunication via a mobile communication network.
 20. A server,comprising: a first memory which stores attribute data of users ofmobile stations in association with identifiers of the mobile stations;a receiving unit which receives a moving status information requestincluding attribute data and moving status monitoring period; a secondmemory; a search unit which searches the first memory for identifiers ofone or more mobile stations associated with the attribute data includedin the moving status information request received by the receiving unit,and stores the searched identifiers of mobile stations in the secondmemory in association with the monitoring status monitoring period dataincluded in the moving status information request received; a thirdmemory; a location information obtaining unit which obtains locationinformation of the mobile stations whose identifiers are stored in thesecond memory at predetermined intervals, and stores the obtainedlocation information in the third memory in a chronological order inaccordance with the identifiers of the mobile stations; an expirationdetermining unit which determines whether a moving status monitoringperiod indicated by the moving status monitoring period data stored inthe second memory has expired; a moving status information generatingunit which reads out, if it is determined by the expiration determiningunit that the moving status monitoring period has expired, theidentifiers of the mobile stations stored in the second memory inassociation with the moving status monitoring period data, and generatesmoving status information on the basis of location information of themobile stations which is stored in the third memory and which has beenobtained within the moving status monitoring period; and a sending unitwhich sends the moving status information generated by the moving statusinformation generating unit.
 21. A server according to claim 20,wherein, said location information is generated by said mobile station.22. A server according to claim 20, wherein, the mobile stations aremobile stations served by a mobile communication network; and saidlocation information is generated in said mobile communication networkon the basis of a location of base stations serving said mobilestations.